Fluid cooled double acting pistons for high temperature engines



H. M. ARNOLD FLUID COOLED DOUBLE ACTING PISTONS Feb. 5, 1963 FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE EN 0r1g1nal-Fi1ed May 5, 1950 GINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

7l. WITNESS/W M. ARNOLD FLUID COOLED DOUBLE ACTING PISTONS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINES Original. Filed May 5, 1960 y Feb. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw N .l M m mi w lIHl-I L n fr/l- In TNI l l l i Il .Q m i Il m WFR Mnl l| a /////r////// n a l I I I- l I s m L. m N f@ N` n r...

WTNESSXM- United States FLUID `This invention relates to double acting piston engines utilizing highly heated gases and, or, highly superheated steam for reciprocating a piston in the engine cylinder and is a `divisional patent. application containing subject matter villustrated and described in my pending patent application Serial No. 27,020 ledMay 1960 for Fuid Cooled Pistons for High Temperature Engines.

The main object of my invention is to provide improved meansfforv circulating a cooling agent` or cooling sealing andlubricating agent throughthe pistons of an engine of the character stated. Efforts ,have been made to circulate such agents through engine pistons but the mechanisms heretofore devised for that purpose have employed flexible connections, a change in volume or intermittent How which have proven inetiicient and unsatisfactory 1n use.

lOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apuparent from the drawings and following specifications, in which like numbers designate like or similar parts throughout t-he several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a long double actingpiston Vand a cylinder barrel embodying my inveriti'on".` p. v

` FIGJQ, sectional view of FIG. l on FIG. 3 is ".arnodication' cross sectional View on the section line 3`13Afof` FIG. 5 and shows a jacketing system applied to the heads of the piston of FIG. 5 and a small partition in theenteringpassage way.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view as at 4 4 of the piston of FIG. 6 equipped with a webbed construction for conducting heat.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified construction of FIG. 1.`

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a piston having a webbed construction in the heads.

Referring to FIG. 1, which gives the general idea of my circulating means, the numeral 10 indicates the cylinder heads closing the ends of the cylinder 11 while the long piston 12 is free to reciprocate in the cylinder 11. The piston 12 is provided with the usual round piston rod 13 and piston rings 14, or other means ot securing a seal at the ends of the piston 12. Channels are provided around the ends of the piston 12 for holding the circulating agent as shown at the section lines 2 2 and K K. The center of the cylinder 11 is also provided with a channel completely around its inside as shown at the section line 2 2 in dotted lines and it is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 also. The channel has an inlet at one side and an outlet at the other side for the circulating agent to enter and leave. It is to be noted, in this design, the circulating agent enters one of the passage ways at 2 2 and circulates around the piston 12 and leaves from the opposite opening at 2 2 in the cylinder 11. The chambers around the ends of the piston 12 at 2 2 and K K trap a portion of the circulating agent and carry it along the barl rel of the cylinder 11 each way from the central passage way in the cylinder 11 at 2 2. Thu-s; the central portion of the piston 12 reciprocates through a steady stream of fluid while the end portions of the cylinder barrel 11 are alternately exposed to the uid trapped in the channels around the end portions of the piston 12. Both the arent" ice 2 piston 12 and cylinder barrel 11 are exposed directly 'to the circulating agent.

' A pocket 20 may be provided in the side of the piston 12 so a rod or bar can beinserted at one of the openings at 2 2 to hold the piston 12 from rotating out of proper position while assembling the engine mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an exact cross-section of FIG. 1 and shows the cylinder 11, piston 12 and piston rod 13.

In FIG. 3, which is amore complicated construction of FIG. l, is shown as at the section line 3 3 of FIG. 5. Here is shown one of the channelsaround the piston 12 and the larger channel around this in the cylinder 11. Instead of the plain piston heads shown at the ends of the piston 12 in FIGS. l and 2, the ends of the piston 12 of FIGS. 3 and 5 are provided with a jacketing system 19 so apart of the circulating fluid can pass throughthe heads and around the endiofl the piston Vrod 13. To

stimulate circulation, a partition 15 is placed in the entering passage way and the fluid is divided and forced at high velocity each way around the piston 12, see arrows. The

ejector eiect set up helps pull a part of the circulating agent through the jackets 19 provided in the heads of the piston 12, as indicated by arrows, each time the piston stops in proper position with respect to the passage way and inlet in the cylinder at 2 2. When the channels in the piston 12 are not in communication with the inlet and outlet at 2 2 in the cylinder 11 the circulating agent can continue to circulate around the outside of the piston 12 and through the jackets 19 in the heads of piston 12 funtil again acted upon by the entering fluid at 2 2 in the cylinder 11.

The FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of one end of a piston 12 on the section line 4 4 of FIG. 6 and shows a webbed construction 22 which may be used in special cases in place of the jacketed heads 19 of the piston 12 shown in FIG. 3. The webs 22 help conduct heat from the center of the piston heads and from the end of the piston rod 13 to the outer edge of the piston 12 and then into the circulating agent in the channels around the ends of the piston 12.

The additional FIGURE 5 shows how the circulating agent circulates through the jackets 19 in the end portions of the'piston 12. The dividing partition 15 can be seen in the entering passage way.

The additional FIG. 6 shows the details of a piston having'a webbed construction in the heads for conducting heat to the outside of the trunk of the piston.

From the description of the means for circulating a cooling agent, or cooling, sealing and lubricating agent around and through pistons shown herein, it will be noted the mechanism is entirely free of flexible connections or changes in volume as the pistons 12 reciprocate and a large continuous opening is provided -for all positions of the pistons 12.

By circulating the Huid through the pistons 12 under suicient pressure the hot gases expanding behind the heads of the pistons 12 will not be able to blow past the rings 14, or other sealing means, at the ends of the pistons 12. Graphite or other lubricants of sufficient body can be sent through in the circulating agent to lubricate and seal the rings 14 and pistons 12 against leakage into the ends of the cylinder 11.

In the appended claims, the expression circulating agent is employed to designate a cooling medium or a cooling, sealing and lubricating agent, whichever may be employed. Water, oil, wet air, Saturated steam and other gases, liquids or vapors may be used in the circulating system. When boiling liquids and Wet vapors are used, the cooling is done by evaporation and a uniform temperature can be had throughout the engine assembly.

Changes may be made in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a reciprocating piston engine of the double act ing type, a cylinder with a piston reciprocating therein, said cylinder having a centrally arranged inlet for admitting a circulating agent to the inside of the cylinder barrel and at a point part way around the cylinder barrel, an outlet provided for said circulating agent to leave, a channel extending completely around the inside of said cylinder barrel for providing a continuous passage for the circulating agent from the inlet to the outlet in said cylinder barrel around the trunk of said piston at all times, said piston being longer than the travel of said piston and provided with a sealing means adjacent its ends, said sealing means stationed a greater distance apart than the travel of said piston and so located that a positive seal against leakage of said circulating agent into the ends of said cylindervbarrel can be made effective, said piston provided With a passageway around it for holding said circulating agent and the passageway being in communication with said inlet, outlet and passageway in said cylinder barrel part of the time, said cylinder provided with a means closing both ends thereof.

2. In a reciprocating piston engine of the double acting type, a cylinder with a piston reciprocating therein, said cylinder having a centrally arranged inlet for admitting a circulating agent to the inside of the cylinder barrel and at a point part way around the center of said cylinder, an outlet provided for said circulating agent, and .a channel extending completely around the inside of said cylinder barrel for providing a continuous passage for the circulating agent around the body of said piston from said inlet to said outlet passage Ways, said piston longer than the travel of said piston and provided with a sealing means adjacent its ends, said sealing means stationed a greater distance apart than the travel of said piston and so located that a positive seal against leakage of said circulating agent into the ends of said cylinder barrel can be made effective, said piston provided with passageways suitably located around its outer surface for holding said circulating agent and a jacket through t-he piston heads and around the piston rod for said circulating agent and a partition in the inlet in said cylinder barrel for dividing and restricting the flow of the circulating agent entering said cylinder barrel and said cylinder provided with a head means closing the ends thereof.

3. In a reciprocating piston engine of the double acting type, a cylinder with a piston reciprocating therein, said cylinder having a centrally arranged inlet divided and restricted at its entrance to the inside of the cylinder barrel and at a point part way around the cylinder, an outlet provided'for said circulating agent and a channel around the inside of said cylinder barrel connecting said inlet and outlet passage ways so said piston can reciprocate through a steady stream of said circulating agent, a piston longer than the travel of said piston provided with a sealing means adjacent its ends, said sealing means located a greater distance apart than the travel of said pistou and so located that a positive seal against leakage of said circulating agent into the ends of said cylinder barrel can be made effective', said piston provided with passageways around its outer surfacel and through the heads thereof and around the piston rod in said piston, suitably located for conducting said circulating'agenn'said cylinder provided with a means closing the ends thereof.

4. In a reciprocating piston 'engine of the double acting type, a cylinder with a piston reciprocating therein, said cylinder having a centrally arranged inlet for" admitting a circulating agent to the inside of the cylinder barrel and at a point part way around the inside of the cylinder barrel, an outletprovided for said circulating agent, a channel extending completely around the inside of the cylinder barrel for providing a continuous passage for the circulating agent around the trunk of the piston and from the inlet to the outlet in said cylinder barrel, a piston longer than the travel of said piston provided with a sealing means adjacent its ends, said sealing means stationed a greater distance apart than the travel of said piston and so located that a positive seal against leakage of said circulating agent into the ends of said cylinder barrel can be made effective, said piston provided with passageways around it for holding said circulating agent, and the passageways being alternately in communication with said inlet, outlet and passageway in said cylinder barrel, said cylinder provided with a means closing `both ends thereof and a webbed construction inside of the piston heads for conducting heat from the center of the piston head and from the end of the piston rod to the circulating agent in the channels around the inside of the cylinder barrel and into the circulating agent in the channels around the outside of the piston.

No references cited. 

1. IN A RECIPROCATING PISTON ENGINE OF THE DOUBLE ACTING TYPE, A CYLINDER WITH A PISTON RECIPROCATING THEREIN, SAID CYLINDER HAVING A CENTRALLY ARRANGED INLET FOR ADMITTING A CIRCULATING AGENT TO THE INSIDE OF THE CYLINDER BARREL AND AT A POINT PART WAY AROUND THE CYLINDER BARREL, AN OUTLET PROVIDED FOR SAID CIRCULATING AGENT TO LEAVE, A CHANNEL EXTENDING COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE OF SAID CYLINDER BARREL FOR PROVIDING A CONTINUOUS PASSAGE FOR THE CIRCULATING AGENT FROM THE INLET TO THE OUTLET IN SAID CYLINDER BARREL AROUND THE TRUNK OF SAID PISTON AT ALL TIMES, SAID PISTON BEING LONGER THAN THE TRAVEL OF SAID 